
              THE GRAND COMMANDER FRANKLY SPEAKING                  

                      THE KEYS TO SUCCESS 

                      C. Fred Kleinknecht 
                   Sovereign Grand Commander 

   One of the great things about being Sovereign Grand 
Commander is that everyone writes to you! 

   Sometimes, of course, the comments received do not exactly 
"make my day," as Clint Eastwood would say. Nevertheless, it is 
always beneficial to hear from the Brethren. Sometimes it is 
even inspiring! There is so much going on throughout the 
Southern Jurisdiction, and really the best way to find out is 
not just through Secretaries' reports and local bulletins but 
through letters from the Brethren. Here is the grass-roots 
input we need to keep Scottish Rite on track. 

   So to all those who write in, no matter what your comment, 
thank you so much! Each of you is helping the Rite move ahead 
vigorously. Here is one example. 

   Brother Chet R. Lindholm, 32, KCCH, a very active 
member of the Fresno, California, Scottish Rite Bodies, 
recently wrote to me about what he and the Fresno Brethren are 
doing to "sell Scottish Rite." He referred to an experience he 
had in 1952 when, as a California highway patrolman, he was 
sent to a special course focused on how to build up a volunteer 
auxiliary for the Fresno County Highway Patrol. What he learned 
at the seminar, especially the portion conducted by Charles 
Simmons of General Motors, relates to any volunteer 
organization, especially in our case the Scottish Rite. 

   So, as Brother Lindholm's letters benefited me, I would like 
to pass on to a larger audience, the readers of The Scottish 
Rite Journal, the good word on how to "sell Scottish Rite." 

   First of all, if you want to accomplish a lot, have more 
friends, and gain a real feeling of success and accomplishment, 
be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   Be a happy, enthusiastic person. We all know the type. Look 
at a truly enthusiastic person. Note how people gravitate 
toward a smile, personal warmth, and an upbeat attitude. 

   Start by building that picture of you in your own mindthe 
kind of person you want to be and CAN be. Make up your mind now 
to be enthusiastic even when you don't feel like it. 

   When you go home from work, rush up to your wife and say 
"Darling, you're wonderful! You look like a million dollars!" 
She will probably faint, but don't worry, she'll recover. She 
will wonder what is wrong, but stick to your guns. Just tell 
her you are happy, that you love her, that you are glad she 
chose you for a husband. It will work like magic! 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   Every day is a special day, just for you, when you are 
enthusiastic. It has to be special for you. It will become 
special for everyone you meet, too. Every day, when you get out 
of bed, come out enthusiastically. Open the throttle every 
morning and again at noon when there is a tendency to let down. 
Open both throttles around 4 and 5 P.M. Make your evening the 
most enthusiastic part of the day! 

   Should you feel tired, remember lethargy pyramids just as 
rapidly as enthusiasm. You won't be half as tired when you stop 
holding back and become an enthusiastic person ALL the time. 
Here is a fundamental law of psychology: "Act the part and you 
will become the part." It works with mathematical accuracy. 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   One of the best indicators you have for enthusiasm is your 
own voice. Learn to listen to it, to really hear it. What does 
it say? You will be amazed when you hear the message under the 
words. Try this experiment. Say "Good morning." At the same 
time think, "I feel miserable." Then say "Good morning" again. 
This time think, "I'm glad I'm alive!" Hear the difference? 

   Also, the next time you tell someone you like something 
about them or their work, make your voice reverberate with "I 
like you!" You get doubled powerpositive words matched to a 
positive, personal attitude. 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   In fact, your attitude toward your family, your job, your 
friends, your Fraternity - toward anything - can be detected in 
your voice. From now on, make your voice say exactly what you 
want it to say: that you are happy, that you are confident. 
Most of all, make it enthusiastic. Make it say, "It's a 
wonderful life and I'm glad you are part of it!" 

   The people you associate with make all the difference in the 
world. They have a great psychological influence on you. They 
affect your conscious mind and, subtly, invade your 
subconscious mind. You can't afford to be around people who 
aren't cheerful, positive, and enthusiastic. They cost you too 
muchin money, in achievement, in peace of mind. If you can't 
change them, leave them alone. If you don't, you will stumble 
along and, in the end, fail. 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   How can we, as Scottish Rite Brethren, make lots of people 
everywhere like us, admire us, trust us, have confidence in us? 
Just one way! Like them and let them know it! Express it. Tell 
them that you like them. Tell them why. Trust people. Have 
confidence in them. Show them that confidence.  The heart of  
human relations is taking a sincere, intelligent, expressed 
interest in people. You will get results now, and you will 
generate more of that priceless quality called enthusiasm. 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   And here is a point many people miss. Walk enthusiastically! 
Walk like you are alive, like you are anxious to get somewhere. 
You will be amazed at what it will do for you. Walk like a 
thoroughbred horseprancing, ready to go all the time! You will 
start to think faster and, best of all, you will start being 
enthusiastic. After all, the body affects the mind as much as 
the mind affects the body! When they see you walking 
enthusiastically, people will want to know where you get all 
that enthusiasm. They will want you to share your secret with 
them. 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

   Finally, believe in God! If there is anything that will give 
you a great sense of personal power, it is a practical and 
workable belief in God. As surely as you need water when you 
are thirsty and food when you are hungry, you need real faith 
in a personal God. 

   Prayer is psychologically sound. It will help you release 
the great natural powers you have inside. It will give you a 
new, inward poise that can and will be translated into everyday 
results. You need God if you want enthusiasm! 

   Brethren, this is a challenge. I suggest you try being truly 
enthusiastic for a month and see what happens. You will be 
amazed by the positive results for you and our Fraternity. 
Guaranteed! 

   Be enthusiastic ALL the time! 

